Southeast Queensland graziers could be forced to euthanase cattle because of drought and soaring temperatures. Picture: Stewart McLeanSource:News Corp Australia

QUEENSLAND graziers could be forced to shoot their cattle as parts of the state are savaged by soaring temperatures on top of an extended drought.

AgForce cattle president Bim Struss said if the rain didn’t come soon, some graziers would be faced with no option but to shoot their cattle as the feed ran out and the animals grew too weak to be moved to market, putting them down for their own welfare.

Mr Struss said the devastating decision to euthanase could be forced on graziers in southeast Queensland hammered by the dry, early, soaring 40C-plus temperatures and sold-out or hard to find fodder and supplements.

He said many operators in western Queensland had already destocked — selling their cattle on while they could still be moved.

Hundreds of truck drivers have helped deliver over 14,000 bales of hay to a drought-stricken region of Queensland on April 2. This aerial video shows the convoy of 258 trucks organised by the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners. Credit: Facebook/Thomas Hinterdorfer

April 3rd 2016

2 years ago

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But he expected others closer to the coast had held on in the hope of rain. But with early heat making the dry conditions worse, farmers would be left with no choice but to euthanase weak stock.

“We have an animal welfare responsibility to the cattle,” Mr Struss said.

“I haven’t heard of it yet in any quantity. But it’s not that far away if we get temperatures in the 40Cs and dams are drying up and grass is getting destroyed. There will be people who have to euthanase cattle.

“I would expect before Christmas people will have to euthanase cattle.

“A lot of people have made the big decision and moved their cattle but some people in closer in areas have expected rain and not got it.”

Mitchell grazier and AgForce general president Grant Maudsley said parts of southern Queensland were very dry, with his property getting just 15cm of rain in 12 months when it averaged 50cm.

He said he, like other graziers, had destocked and saved their paddocks for the rain that would eventually come.

He said areas roughly north of a line from Townsville to Mt Isa had received good rain and were having a better year.

It comes as Brisbane looks set to endure its driest September on record, with no rain having fallen at all this month.